Zachariah Branch ready to make an impact in Georgia-Alabama matchup

Saturday night will be the first time Georgia wide receiver Zachariah Branch experiences a night game inside Sanford Stadium. Yet, he already has an idea of what to expect between Georgia and Alabama.

“It’s a great traditional game. A lot of history between the two teams. I’m just blessed with the opportunity to be able to wear that G and go out there with my teammates,” Branch said on Monday. “I’m going to go out there and have fun. I know the atmosphere is going to be pretty crazy. Feeling the support from the fans and everybody. I’m really excited for this atmosphere and these opportunities.”

Branch was able to watch last year’s game between these two SEC foes.

“I definitely saw the atmosphere and, you know, the passion of the guys playing in the game on both sides of the ball, and I saw how much it really meant to both teams,” Branch said.

The former USC transfer already has a taste of what a big-time SEC matchup feels like.

“Oh yeah, that was a crazy atmosphere, man. It was something that I’ll never forget,” Branch said of the Tennessee game. “Just getting a chance to go out there in my first real game. First SEC game. It was something that was really special to go out there with the guys.”

Branch added that having that chance to play in a game like the 44-41 overtime thriller in Knoxville was a reason he transferred to Athens.

“You want to get a chance to play the best competition. SEC is a great conference,” Branch said. “I feel like it just sets me up to have those prime-time games.”

For Branch, this matchup comes at a time when he feels like the acclaimation period is behind him.

“I feel like I’ve acclimated pretty well. Just getting a chance to study whatever the game plan is for that week,” Branch said. “I take that very seriously. Just trying to be very detail-oriented and go out there and be the best version of myself for the team.”

Making an impact

It took just three games for Branch to emerge as Georgia’s leading receiver with 181 yards and two touchdowns on 11 receptions. At 5-foot-10 and 180 pounds, Branch has been a go-to for quarterback Gunner Stockton in the intermediate passing game, in addition to the screen game.

It was the screen game where Branch’s explosiveness arguably shone most for Georgia. Branch took a screen pass 36 yards to the endzone against Tennessee.

“I feel like a lot of it is a credit to my teammates. We spend a lot of time on perimeter blocking in practice,” Branch said of his success in the screen game. “So I feel like that pretty much makes my job pretty easy, honestly. I have a lot of speed and things like that. That’s one of the things that is a positive in my game. But if it wasn’t for the blocks, I wouldn’t be able to do the things that I’m doing.”

It also helps that Georgia has a “dawg” like Stockton at quarterback, as Branch said.

“It’s just an honor playing with somebody like him. I know a lot of people say that he doesn’t really talk that much, but he actually does,” Branch said. “He’s a real good leader. He takes a lot of orchestration in the offense, in the huddle, and things like that, just making sure everybody’s on the same page.”

After Branch and his teammates had seen the ability of Stockton in practice, the world finally saw it in Knoxville.

“I had a perfect view of the touchdown to London (Humphreys), man. I’m just replaying it in my head,” Branch said. “It was such a great moment. Just seeing him go out there and make that play. You couldn’t ask for a better ball from Gunner right there. Those are plays that he makes in practice, routine practice plays, but I know he would be able to make it in the game.”